AFRICA: Egyptian President Sisi’s office said that Egypt and Saudi Arabia are considering holding joint military maneuvers in the kingdom.

AMERICAS: The Cuban government welcomed as “fair” a US decision to remove it from a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

ASIA: Japan’s Air Force said jet fighter scrambles have reached a level not seen since the height of the Cold War amid probing flights from Russia and China.

EUROPE: HRW said that migrants are experiencing widespread harassment and abuse by police as they cross Serbia while trying to reach Western European states.

MIDDLE EAST: ISIS militants in Iraq launched an offensive east of Ramadi, capturing three villages that had been under government control.

TECHNOLOGY: The EU formally charged Google with abusing its dominant search market position in Europe.

TOP STORY

Iran: Government reacts to expanded role of US Congress in nuclear deal.

Iranian President Rouhani said that Tehran was negotiating with world powers, not the US Congress, and called a Senate committee’s vote to give Congress the power to review any potential deal a domestic US matter.

Iranian President Rouhani said Tehran will not accept a deal with major powers if all sanctions imposed on Tehran are not lifted.

US Secretary Kerry said he was confident US President Obama would be able to get Congress to approve a nuclear deal with Iran.

Israeli Intelligence Minister Steinitz said Israel is pleased with the compromise deal achieved between the US Congress and the administration of President Obama.

Iranian nuclear spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi reported that inspectors from the IAEA arrived in Tehran to discuss “unresolved issues” surrounding a military site in Marivan.

Region: US President Obama is due to meet the presidents of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone to discuss progress on the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. (Reuters)

Central African Republic: The head of the UN mission to the country is urging donors to contribute more than USD20 million to finance elections. (AP)

Egypt: President Sisi’s office said the country and Saudi Arabia are considering holding joint military maneuvers in the kingdom. (AFP)

Sudan: Polling stations for the general election opened for the third and last day while voter turnout remained low. (DPA)

AMERICAS

Colombia: The Army accused FARC guerrillas of continuing to recruit minors, after the rebel group promised to stop in February. (Xinhua)

Cuba: The government welcomed as “fair” a US decision to remove it from a list of state sponsors of terrorism. (BBC)

United States: A senior defense official said the military is well equipped to defend the country against cyberattacks but lacks the means to lead an offensive campaign in a fast-moving digital conflict. (AFP)

Venezuela: President Maduro said he had launched a probe into reports of Panama-based Venezuelans who may have illegally obtained wealth. (AFP)

ASIA

Region: Beijing dismissed as “groundless” Philippine President Aquino’s warning that China’s actions in the South China Sea should “engender fear for the rest of the world”. (AFP)

Japan: The Air Force said jet fighter scrambles have reached a level not seen since the height of the Cold War amid probing flights from Russia and China. (Reuters)

Korea, South: President Park Geun-Hye promised to punish “anyone” involved in corruption as she faced a growing bribery scandal. (AFP)

Philippines: Foreign Secretary Rosario said the US plans to deploy advanced air and naval equipment in the country to strengthen its military presence in the region. (Kyodo)

EUROPE

France: President Hollande is set to arrive in Switzerland for a state visit aimed at improving ties clouded by disputes over tax evasion claims. (AFP)

Serbia: HRW said that migrants are experiencing widespread harassment and abuse by police as they cross the country while trying to reach Western European states. (AP)

Turkey: President Erdogan said that the country would disregard the European parliament’s views over the 1915 mass killings of Armenians, which the Pope this week described as genocide. (Reuters)

United Kingdom: Police arrested six people on suspicion of terrorism, in an investigation linked to a group that unsuccessfully tried to cross into Syria from Turkey. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

Iraq: ISIS militants launched an offensive east of Ramadi, capturing three villages that had been under government control. (AP)